| This masterful keystone illustration depicts the tragic panorama of Dunbar’s Massacre in remarkable detail. From right to left: Major Dumas (brandishing sword) leads the Canadian militia in a surprise attack upon Lieutenant Dunbar (lower right corner) and his 80th Light Infantrymen in the bogs of Coaticook (Norton) Pond, where they are over-run and butchered by avenging St. Francis Abenakis. Chief Gill, whose wife and sons have been taken prisoner by Rogers, duels with a Rogers’ Ranger (center) who is covering the retreat of the wounded Lieutenant George Turner, who is crawling away (left). The rest of Turner’s platoon, realizing the hopelessness of continued resistance, drift away under cover of the rapidly descending dusk. There are many expressive details: note the Ranger pack (center right) with loot and gnawed ear of corn. Chief Gill is authentically portrayed in St. Francis Abenaki war paint. The other elements involved, Rogers’ Rangers, the 80th Light Infantry, Canadian (Trois Rivieres) militia, and coureur de bois are portrayed with meticulous accuracy. Haystack Mountain (upper right) is projected forward in this depiction in order to include it in Zaboly’s masterpiece. The landscape was described to the artist by the author after personally observing the site. (See The History of Rogers’ Rangers, Volume 4, The St. Francis Raid, by Burt Garfield Loescher, for full historical account of Dunbar’s Massacre, as well as the description of the exact location of the battle with author’s maps and topographical map references.) - United States - Military - French and Indian War |
